FAQ

When does the school operate?Starting Monday July 2nd, for eight weeks during the summer, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, morning sessions and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., all-day sessions, Monday to Friday. Come for one week or up to eight weeks. Our Racing Program run in the afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. Race Regattas are in addition.

What if I’m an older student?The school will continue to offer an accelerated program at the CanSail levels for kids aged 12 or older, and who are just being introduced to sailing. These students will be paired with other students of similar age and ability, where possible, and be provided with special instructions. As their skills typically develop more quickly, they will be moved along in the program over a shorter period of time, allowing them to catch up with other students their age.

Do you have races?For advanced students (CanSail 4,5,6), the school offers a Racing Program that runs Tuesday-Thursday afternoons during weeks 2-7, and on several weekends (racing regattas). The program teaches the skills and rules of racing, and includes competitions within the school and with other clubs in the area.

All students have the opportunity to participate in club racing held on weekends and are encouraged to do so to achieve higher levels of skill development and join in the fun.

How do I get there?

The school site is on McVittie Island, near the east side of Browning and Eilean Gowan Islands. Directions are on the Contact Us page. For those arriving by water, boat pooling is encouraged to reduce the number of students driving to the site. Shuttles are also run between George Road Landing and the Island for students being dropped off by car.

What are the school’s facilities?The school site is fully developed, with docks, a launching ramp, boat and equipment storage, a dry land training pavilion, and sandy beach. In the summer of 2000, the world famous Optimist (Opti) youth program was introduced at SMSS. The Opti program is designed for children from the ages 6-11 to be introduced to sailing in a small, child friendly boat. These boats are safe, fun, and provide a fabulous addition to the sailing program. The Club has upgraded its boats in recent years and we are planning to continue doing so.

What are class sizes like?With 10 qualified instructors, and an average of 50 students, there is a low student to teacher ratio, enabling personalized instruction at all levels